Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-09-28

most eloquent and indignant speech.
According to him, Dan Gulliver, the much
maligned, was an admirable specimen Of
a class which formed, he said, tho back
bone of our country; he was yeoman,
farming the few acres which formed his
paternal estate, and living frugally with
his sons and ON adopted daughter in O cot
tage upon his own land. For fishing pur-
poses he had two boats, one Of them,
called the Dancing Polly, being q re-
markably fast sailer. On this particular
night he had been along the coast picking
up, no doubt, 2 cargo of butter and eggs,
or it might be fish, and such harmless
matters, end proposing to return to Rous-
don. bay, little creek or Inlet OF the sea
Immediately below his farm.
Here he protested against the assump-
ton that the expedition had been across
the channel. "How can you prove it?
How came the suspicion to arisei Was it
likely that in so small vessel, at that
stormy period of the year, four men would
venture on voyage so dangerous? What
is more common than O trading voyage
along the coasts What more reasonable
to suppose than that small farmer with
a taste for sailing and boating should
carry on such a trade? At least, gentle
men. till the contrary is proved, you have
no right to suppose that the object Of
keeping the Dancing Polly was crimi-
nal one.n
Daniel Gulliver, he went on to say, was
accompanied by the two boys and o
stranger. No secrecy was observed about
the expedition, and some idle or malig-
nant person, one of those creeping things
which infest every society Of men, thought
1t worth while to communicate the pro-
posed voyage to Lieut.. Pollard, that gal
LIANT officer whose discretion was not
equal to his zeal, and whose eagerness to
protect his majesty's revenue led him to
overlook the fact that you must not arrest
q man on suspicion and charge him with
smuggling, unless you can prove it. "For,
gentlemen" he said, "what actual proof
have we? This"-he held up the half
empty pint bottle Of brandy-"this is the
mighty proof A small half pint Of spirit,
which smells to me, gentlemen"-hc took
out the cork and smelled it cautiously
(which smells to me, confess, Of rum,
rather than Of brandy-is all the proof,
absolutely the only proof, that we have.
In the dead Of dark night, q man, whose
object is theft, hurriedly steals this spirit
from the hold of the vessel, and swears
that he saw other kegs, the contents
Of which are unknown. The place
is most retired and secluded. They carry
off their prisoners, the officer never once
thinking of examining the boat. When
they send back for that purpose there is
nothing at all in the boat. Mind, gentle
men, no ono had been there. Yet the
boat was in ballast. That is very re-
markable circumstance. That Is very
suspicious circumstance. That is cir
cumstance which in my mind renders en-
tirely valueless the evidence Of the man
the chief witness-whose only value was
that it seemed to afford basis for as
sumption of guilt. Remember, gentle
men, again, that the only proof of guilt IS
half pint of rum, or some such spirit. in
q bottle-a half pint-about enough to
amuse q gentleman between bottle OF
port and bedtime; and on that half pint
you are asked to convict this honest, re-
ligious and God fearing yeoman, with his
two innocent boys, and young man OF
whom no harm whatever is known, and
therefore none should be suspected"
When all this was done the judge
summed up. 1t was most unfortunate
for us that his gout rendered him i'll tenn
pered and sour. He went through the
evidence bit by bit, pointed out how
simple it was, how clearly on act of snug
Cling was proved, and showed them that
they ought to consider not the amount
smuggled but the intention. AS for the
prisoners, the Judge said lie had no doubt
about their being all habitual criminals.
AS for the rest of the cargo, the judge
said he had no doubt whatever that it was
composed of French brandy.
The jury were dismissed; they were
away for five minutes only: they came
back with q unanimous verdict:
equity, but recommended to mercy on
the ground of the elder prisoners other
wise good character and the youth of tho
Others"
"Prisoners ut the BAR" said the judge,
"you have heard the verdict of the jury.
With that verdict entirely agree. Have
you anything further to sayP'
Dan cleared his throat and spoke.
"Only that your lordship was quite
right" he said. "There was brandy in
them kegs. That IS all.
There was general laugh, and even the
Judge smiled austerely.
81 am glad that you admit your guilt.
You are recommended to mercy. Under
other circumstances should have inflicted
the full penalty of seven years penal
servitude. But am instructed from
another and higher quarter that you,
Daniel Gulliver, have conferred service
which may be of Importance to the coun-
try. In return for this, you and your
party will experience the kings clemency.
I am also anxious to take into account the
good character which you have received
from your rector and others. If I could
believe that this run Of yours was soli-
tary venture I would have inflicted a
nominal sentence upon you. But 1t was
not. You know that you have been sys-
tcmatically engaged in breaking ahe law.
You have brought up your sons in your
own footsteps. The laws of England
must not be broken with impunity. The
sentence of the court, therefore, Is, that
you and your two sons, and the fourth
prisoner, William Campion, do serve his
majesty on board the royal fleet for the
space of three years. During that time
you will not be debarred from receiving
such pay, rewards, prize money and pro-
motions US may be considered your just
due. The Dancing Polly IS, Of course, the
prize of Capt. Pollard"
Dan looked at Will, not at his two sons,
Us if to see what he thought of it. Will
put up his finger as if enjoining silence.
1--WE thank your lordship," Dan said.
"God save the kingn'
He stopped over the dock to kiss me.
Remember the hearthstone, my pref
ty," he whispered, land keep up your
heart and wait for us in patience. We
shall come home again. The Lord bless
theen'
But it was Will who held me tightest.
"Bc patient, DEAR" he whispered, "pa-
ticnt and true. Goodbye
Then they removed the prisoners, and
Mr.. Copas took me out of the court.
Next day he sent me in q carriage back
to Lyme.
1t was in the evening that I arrived.
Joshua Mech was in the street. He was
dressed in black, and had evidently just
como out Of his meeting house, so that he
was playing his third part
"Dispensations!" he groaned, holding
up both his hands. ooh, Pleasance, let
us kiss the rodl Three years aboard the
royal fleet! What sentence for young
gentleman! Ropes-ends and cat-o'-nine-
tails, with salt junk! 'Tis the chastise-
ment of Providence.
"Do not come near me, Joshuam I
said, tiercely, thinking Of his last visit to
me. "For three years I shall see no
OneH